System for measuring level of dry bulk material in container

Abstract

A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material within a container has a columnar device supported vertically within the container. The columnar device has a closed lower end and openings through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device. A load cell is used to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device, which is then correlated to the level of dry bulk solids within the container. The columnar device and the sidewall openings therein can be provided in various shapes and configurations.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material in a container, comprising:
 a columnar device adapted to be supported vertically within the container so as to be surrounded by the dry bulk material within the container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the columnar device and the dry bulk material within the columnar device. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for correlating the measured weight of the dry bulk material with a level of material in the container. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said load cell is a tension load cell, and wherein said columnar device is hung from said load cell. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said load cell is a compression load cell. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said columnar device is a cylindrical member. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said columnar device is a tubular member having a rectangular cross section. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening comprises first and second longitudinal openings on opposite sides of said columnar device that extend along a length of said columnar device. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for communicating a signal from the load cell to a user. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening has a total cross-section opening area of 5% to 5000% of an internal cross-sectional area of said columnar device. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings through the sidewall spaced along a length of said columnar device. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of openings are generally rectangular-shaped openings formed in the sidewall. 
     
     
       12. A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material in a container, comprising:
 a columnar device adapted to be supported vertically within the container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device; 
 wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings through the sidewall spaced along a length of said columnar device; and 
 wherein said plurality of openings are generally circular-shaped openings formed in the sidewall. 
 
     
     
       13. A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material in a container, comprising:
 a columnar device adapted to be supported vertically within the container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device; 
 wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings through the sidewall spaced along a length of said columnar device; and 
 wherein said plurality of openings are provided on opposite sides of said columnar device. 
 
     
     
       14. A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material in a container, comprising:
 a columnar device adapted to be supported vertically within the container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device; 
 wherein said at least one opening extends along a length of said columnar device. 
 
     
     
       15. A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material in a container, comprising:
 a columnar device adapted to be supported vertically within the container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device; 
 wherein said columnar device comprises a plurality of linear subsections that are assembled together end-to-end to match a height of the container. 
 
     
     
       16. In combination, a container and a system for measuring a level of dry bulk material within the container, said system comprising:
 a columnar device supported vertically within said container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device, whereby said measured weight can be correlated to the level of dry bulk material within said container; 
 wherein said columnar device is hung from a center peak of said container with said closed lower end positioned above an outlet of said container. 
 
     
     
       17. In combination, a container and a system for measuring a level of dry bulk material within the container, said system comprising:
 a columnar device supported vertically within said container so as to be surrounded by the dry bulk material within the container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing the dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the columnar device and the dry bulk material within the columnar device, whereby said measured weight can be correlated to the level of dry bulk material within said container. 
 
     
     
       18. The combination according to  claim 17 , wherein a diameter of said columnar device is between 1% and 75% of a diameter of said container. 
     
     
       19. A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material in a container, comprising:
 a columnar device adapted to be supported vertically within the container, said columnar device having a closed lower end and at least one opening through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device; and 
 a load cell associated with said columnar device, said load cell being arranged to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device; 
 wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings through the sidewall spaced along a length of said columnar device; 
 wherein said plurality of openings are generally rectangular-shaped openings formed in the sidewalk and 
 wherein said rectangular-shaped openings have a length in a horizontal direction and a height in a vertical direction, and wherein said height is less than said length. 
 
     
     
       20. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said height is approximately one-half of said length. 
     
     
       21. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein a center-to-center spacing between adjacent openings is approximately twice said height.